JP2002085386A - Adjustable end cap for lancing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an end cap for a lancing device capable of adjusting the penetration depth of a lance to match the thickness and the pain tolerance of the skin. SOLUTION: The end cap 18 has a two-piece structure consisting of a base cap 24 and a twist cap 26. The base cap includes a column 40 with detents 46 and 48. At least one finger-shaped piece 47 or 49 is disposed at the base cap adjacent the column. The twist cap includes at least one spiral groove 54 or 56 on its outer surface to allow the finger-shaped piece to fit into the groove when the twist cap is fitted over the column. Upon rotation of the twist cap over the column, the twist cap is moved toward or away from the base cap by the interaction of the finger-shaped piece with the groove and works to adjust the penetration depth of the lance attached to the lancing device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to blood monitoring devices, and more particularly to puncturing a finger or other body part to collect blood for monitoring. An adjustable end cap for a lancing device.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is often necessary to obtain a blood sample quickly and perform an analysis of the blood sample. One example of the need to painlessly collect a blood sample relates to a blood glucose monitoring system, which is often used by users to monitor their blood glucose levels.

[0003] Persons with abnormal blood glucose levels are medically required to regularly self-monitor their blood glucose levels. Abnormal blood glucose levels occur for a variety of reasons, including diseases such as diabetes. The purpose of monitoring the blood glucose level is to measure the blood glucose level and then take corrective action based on whether the level is too high or too low to bring the level back into the normal range. . Failure to take corrective action can lead to serious consequences. If the blood glucose level is too low (a condition known as hypoglycemia), it can become nervous, shivering, and confusional. The person's judgment is impaired, and eventually they faint. If the blood glucose level is too high (a condition known as hyperglycemia), it can be very severe. Both hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia are potentially life-threatening emergencies.

[0004]

One method of monitoring a person's blood glucose level is to use a hand-held portable blood glucose test device. To test blood glucose levels using a test device, a blood drop is collected from a fingertip using a lancing device. A typical lancing device includes a lancing needle for lancing the skin. These lancing devices include a lance
Some do not have a means to adjust the penetration depth. These lancing devices cannot adapt to different skin thicknesses that affect the amount of blood that can be drawn.
In addition, these devices cannot accommodate the differences in pain tolerance of the person whose blood is drawn.

[0005] There are adjustable lancing devices, but these devices typically adjust the position of the structural element that engages the lance holder, thereby limiting the travel of the lance. These are cumbersome to adjust and degrade quickly. Other adjustable lancing devices have a large number of components, resulting in high costs and complicated adjustment procedures.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides for the penetration of a lance of a lancing device which allows the lancing device to be adjusted to adapt to the skin thickness and pain tolerance of the person on which the lancing device is used. It is an end cap for a puncture device for adjusting the depth. The end cap includes an adjustment structure and is designed to fit into existing lancing devices, thereby reducing costs.

[0007] The end cap of the present invention comprises two parts:
It consists only of a base cap and a twist cap.
Because there are fewer parts than the prior art adjustable lancing device, costs are reduced and the assembly and use of the end cap of the present invention is simplified. The base cap includes a central post to which the twist cap is attached. When actuated, the lance of the lancing device extends through the base cap, travels the distance between the base cap and the twist cap, and exits through the twist cap and beyond the twist cap. The end of the twist cap is the portion of the end cap that is pressed against the skin of the person whose blood is drawn. The twist cap includes a spiral outer track into which fingers on the base cap enter. To adjust the end cap, the user need only twist or turn the twist cap, and the interaction of the fingers with the spiral track moves the twist cap relative to the base cap. The distance the lance of the lancing device projects beyond the base cap is constant. Thus, by adjusting the distance between the base cap and the twist cap by twisting the base cap, the distance the lance exits the twist cap and enters the user's finger is adjusted. As a result, a user of the puncture device having the end cap of the present invention can easily adjust the penetration depth of the lance simply by turning or twisting the end cap.
When turning the twist cap, there is a stop step that the user can know tactilely and audibly. These stop steps correspond to different penetration depths and are provided by a clasp on the center post of the base cap and a clasp slot inside the twist cap.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Many children and adults have to draw their blood several times a day in order to perform an analysis of a drawn blood sample. Because of the differences in skin thickness and pain resistance among these people, devices for puncturing human skin to draw blood may include a mechanism for adjusting the penetration depth of the lance. preferable. One example of a known puncture device 100 is shown in FIG. A known lancing device 100 is disclosed in US Pat.
No. 738. The entire specification is incorporated herein by reference. Known puncture device 100
Includes a main housing part 112, a housing part 114 movable with respect to the main housing part 112, and an end cap support 116. End cap 118
Attached to end cap support 116 by a pair of latches or support arms 120 that are part of end cap support 116.

The puncturing mechanism including the lance is a main housing 1
12 inside. The lance passes through an opening in the end cap 118 driven by a drive mechanism raised to a strikable position by pulling the housing portion 114 away from the main housing portion 112. The drive mechanism fires by pressing the button 122. The known lancing device 100 changes the penetration depth of the lance,
A number of differently sized end caps 118 are provided.

A puncture device 10 of the present invention is shown in FIGS. The puncture device 10 includes a main housing part 12, a housing part 14 movable with respect to the main housing part,
End cap support 16 and main housing 12
The puncturing apparatus 100 is the same as the known puncturing apparatus 100 in that it includes a button 22 for firing the driving mechanism and the puncturing mechanism housed in the puncturing apparatus 100. However, puncturing device 10 differs from known puncturing device 100 in that it does not require a number of different sized end caps to change the penetration depth of the lance. Instead, the lancing device 10 includes an adjustable end cap 18 that can be quickly and easily adjusted to obtain multiple lance penetration depths.

The end cap 18 is provided on the base cap 2.
4 and a two-piece structure composed of a twist cap 26. The twist cap 26 includes a top or surface 28 that is applied to the skin of the person whose blood is to be drawn. The top 28 has an opening 30 through which the lance is driven to pass when the button 22 is pressed. By changing the position of the top 28 with respect to the base cap 24, the distance that the lance exits the twist cap 26 and thus the depth of penetration of the lance can be adjusted.

In order to provide a puncture device 10 in which the penetration depth can be quickly adjusted, a base cap 24 is provided.
May be fitted to a pair of support arms (not shown) similar to the support arm 120 of the known puncture device 110. As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the base cap 24 includes a body 32 with a pair of shoulders 34 and 36. The shoulders 34 and 36 are hollow and lie on the support arm of the lancing device 10. Scale 38 is body 3
2 showing different penetration depths of the lance provided on the upper surface of the lance. Base cap 24 further includes a post 40 located between and spaced from shoulders 34 and 36.
The strut 40 includes a top 42 with a central opening 44 through which the lance passes. Post 40 also includes first and second cantilevered clasps 46 and 48. A pair of protrusions or fingers 47 and 49 are formed on the inner surfaces of the shoulders 34 and 36 and extend with respect to the post 40.

The twist cap 26 covers the column 40. As best shown in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7, the twist cap 26 includes a number of ridges 50 that allow the user to grip the twist cap 26 and to support the struts 40 and the base cap 24. Provide a gripping surface that allows for turning. The twist cap 26 also includes an indicator line 52 that indicates a different portion of the scale 38 as the twist cap 26 is turned, thereby indicating the lance penetration depth of the twist cap 26 at that location.

On the lower outer surface of the twist cap 26,
A first spiral groove 54 and a second spiral groove 56 are formed. When the twist cap 26 is placed over the column 40, these grooves 54 and 56
It is located above and is aligned with protrusions or fingers 47 and 49 extending into respective grooves 54 and 56.

As best shown in FIG. 7, the inner peripheral surface 68 of the twist cap 26 has several slots 58, 60,
62, 64 and 66 are formed. When the twist cap 26 is put on the column 40 and turned, the catch 4
6 and 48 snap into slots 58, 60, 62, 64 and 66 to indicate to the user the particular penetration depth of the lance. In the embodiment shown, the scale 38 includes a first symbol 38a in the form of a large drop and a second symbol 38b in the form of a smaller drop. First symbol 38a and second symbol 3
8b, there are five point scales 38c. These point scales 38c correspond to specific penetration depths varying from "shallow" (point scale 38c closest to the small drop scale 38b) to "deep" (point scale 38c closest to the large drop scale 38a). I do. By twisting the twist cap, the index line 52 is set to a point scale 3 corresponding to a desired penetration depth.
By combining with 8c, the penetration depth can be selected.

In addition to this visual selection of the lance penetration depth, the catches 46 and 48 and the slots 58, 60, 6
2, 64 and 66 provide tactile and audible instructions. Each slot 58, 60, 62 and 64 corresponds to one of the point scales 38c. The user has a twist cap 2
Turn one of the catches 46 and 48 into the slots 58, 6
When deviating from one of 0, 62, 64 and 66, the user feels a slight resistance to the rolling action. When further turned, the slots 58, 60, 62, 64 and 66 pass through the catch, and the smooth inner peripheral surface 68 of the twist cap 26 passes through the catch. When the next slot 58, 60, 62, 64 or 66 passes through the catch, the catch will click and snap into the slot and the user will feel resistance to rotation. In this way, the user knows when a certain penetration depth has been reached. As can be appreciated, the penetration depth can be easily adjusted, without adding or removing parts of the puncture device 10 and without changing the pressure with which the puncture device 10 is pressed against the skin of the user. Penetration depth is possible.

The shallower the lance penetration depth, the greater the distance between the surface 28 of the twist cap 26 and the top 42 of the column 40. This distance is the distance between the first and second grooves 54.
And 56 are regulated by the interaction of the protrusions or fingers 47 and 49. As the twist cap 26 is turned, the first and second grooves 54 and 56 move relative to the protrusions or fingers 47 and 49. Because the first and second grooves 54 and 56 are helical, the movement of the grooves 54 and 56 relative to the protrusions 47 and 49 causes the twist cap 26 to
It moves vertically relative to zero, thereby increasing or decreasing the distance between the surface 28 of the twist cap 26 and the top 42 of the post 40. The lance exits the top 42 by a certain distance, so as the distance between the top 42 and the surface 28 increases, the distance the lance exits beyond the top 42 decreases, and when the distance between the top 42 and the surface 28 decreases, The distance that the lance exits beyond the top 42 and thus the penetration depth increases.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to one or more specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that many changes may be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Will. Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is considered to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a conventional puncture device.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the puncture device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an end cap of the puncture device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the end cap shown in FIG. 3 with a twist cap removed.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the end cap shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a twist cap.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the twist cap shown in FIG.

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An adjustable end cap for a lancing device, comprising a base cap and a twist cap, wherein the base cap is adjacent to the post cap and on the base cap. At least one finger, wherein the twist cap is adapted to cover the strut member, the twist cap includes at least one substantially spiral track on an outer surface thereof, An adjustable end cap, wherein the fingers extend into the track when the twist cap is on the strut member. 2. The adjustable end cap according to claim 1, wherein at least one cantilever clasp is included on the strut member and at least one clasp receiving surface is included on an interior surface of the twist cap. 3. The adjustable end cap according to claim 1, wherein the base cap is configured to engage a lancing device. 4. The adjustable end cap of claim 1, wherein said strut member is cylindrical. 5. The base cap further includes a second finger adjacent the strut, the twist cap includes a second substantially spiral track on an outer surface thereof, and the twist cap includes The adjustable end cap according to claim 1, wherein the second finger extends into the second track when present on the strut member. 6. An adjustable end cap for a lancing device, the adjustable end cap comprising a cylindrical post member configured to be attached to the lancing device and having a first cantilevered clasp thereon. A base cap comprising a first finger adjacent to and extending radially from the columnar member; configured to reside on the columnar member; and wherein the twist cap is A twist cap including on its outer surface a substantially helical track disposed to align with the first finger when present on the post member, and including a plurality of catch receiving surfaces on its inner surface. And an adjustable end cap. 7. The adjustable end cap for a puncture device according to claim 6, wherein said base cap further comprises a second cantilevered clasp on said cylindrical strut member. 8. The adjustable end for a lancing device according to claim 6, wherein said base cap further comprises a second finger adjacent to said cylindrical strut member and extending radially thereto. cap. 9. The adjustable end cap for a puncture device according to claim 6, wherein the twist cap further comprises a second substantially helical track on the outer surface of the twist cap. 10. An end cap for adjusting the penetration depth of a lance of a puncture device, comprising: a cylindrical mounting post; and first and second pieces on diametrically opposite sides of the mounting post. A base cap including first and second fingers adjacent the mounting post and on opposite sides of the mounting post; and a plurality of stops rotatably mounted on the mounting post. A twist cap that includes a gold receiving groove on an inner surface, each mating with the first and second fingers, and a first and second substantially helical track on the outer surface. End cap to do.